Armed Forces: Helicopters

Lord Astor of Hever: To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the retention rate for Apache helicopter pilots serving in HM Armed Forces in each year since 2001.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: There is no single, formal measure providing a retention rate for aircrew.
	Apache aircrew deployable strength has increased from 46 to 108 since 2007 due to increased operational demand. There has been a fourfold increase in flying hours for Apache helicopter aircrew since 2006.
	The Attack helicopter force has been steadily growing since the Apache was introduced into service. The original requirement was to provide 40 crews by 2009 and a long-term plan of growing to 60 crews in 2012.

Armed Forces: Imprisonment

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many soldiers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and refused to return there have been imprisoned due to their refusal to serve another tour in each of the past four years; and what is the average length of sentence for such soldiers.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: The information is not held in the format requested.
	Our Armed Forces are prepared to put their lives on the line in service of the country. They willingly accept restrictions to their lifestyle and the unique conditions of service that are required to do the job. Wherever possible we will accommodate individual needs, providing that this does not impact on operational effectiveness.
	Service personnel are not allowed to choose which assignments they will undertake or which orders they will follow. As a result, refusing to serve on operations may result in a charge for desertion. In each of the past four years, three personnel from all three services have been charged and found guilty of desertion, with an average length of sentence of about eight months. It is not possible to confirm whether a refusal to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan, on either a first or second tour, was a factor in all of these cases.

Armed Forces: Snatch Land Rovers

Lord Astor of Hever: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 18 March (WA 214), how many Snatch Land Rovers are deployed in Afghanistan.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: It has been a long-standing policy of this department not to release data on the number of vehicles deployed to Afghanistan as their disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Armed Forces: Travel

Lord Astor of Hever: To ask Her Majesty's Government under what circumstances senior officers in Her Majesty's Armed Forces are granted first class train travel.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given in the other place on 25 March 2010, (Official Report, col. 414W) to the right honourable Member for Rotherham (Mr MacShane).

Civil Service: Redeployment

Lord Astor of Hever: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many civil servants there are in the Headquarters Land Forces redeployment pool as a result of Project Hyperion; how long they have been there; and what is the cost of keeping them there.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: Project Hyperion is the co-location of all Headquarters Land Forces staff to Andover by summer 2010. As part of this process 183 posts were deemed surplus to requirements at Andover. The individuals affected are being offered other employment as suitable opportunities become available. So far, 138 staff have found new jobs, taken early release or retired.
	The cost of maintaining staff in the redeployment pool only begins to accrue after their posts have been disestablished. Even then, the department aims to find temporary alternative employment for those concerned while they search for a permanent role. As at 29 March 2010 none of the 45 staff left in the redeployment pool has had their post disestablished.

Cluster Bombs

Baroness Northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take to advance a worldwide ban on the use of cluster bombs.

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: It is the Government's desire to achieve a global cluster munitions ban as soon as possible.
	We have already started working to achieve this. Notably, in November the Government launched a political initiative encouraging Commonwealth states to support the convention. Further targeted lobbying work has been undertaken at the African Union summit in January 2010 and during a range of recent bilateral meetings.
	Following Royal Assent to the Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Act on 25 March, the UK will ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions imminently. Our UK posts overseas have been instructed to lobby their hosts to support the convention.
	We will continue to raise universalisation of the convention with non-signatory states in relevant international meetings and fora, and during bilateral contacts. We will continue to co-operate and work in partnership with non-governmental organisations and like-minded states in these efforts.

Democratic Renewal Council

Lord Tyler: To ask Her Majesty's Government who are the members of the Democratic Renewal Council; and which members attended which meetings of the Council.

Baroness Crawley: The full membership of the Democratic Renewal Council is:
	Prime Minister (Chair);Leader of the House of Commons (and Lord Privy Seal); Minister for Women and Equality;First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and Lord President of the Council;Chancellor of the Exchequer;Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor; Secretary of State for the Home Department;Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Secretary of State for International Development;Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government; Secretary of State for Northern Ireland;Leader of the House of Lords and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; Secretary of State for Scotland; Secretary of State for Wales;Chief Whip (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury); Attorney-General; andMinister of State, Ministry of Justice.
	Other Ministers are invited to attend meetings where necessary.
	Information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees, including which members attended which meeting, is generally not disclosed. To do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Democratic Renewal Council

Lord Bates: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what dates the Democratic Renewal Council has met.

Baroness Crawley: Information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees, including when and how often they meet, is generally not disclosed. To do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how many people have been (a) killed, (b) raped, and (c) internally or externally displaced, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo since operation Amani Leo was launched.

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: I visited the east of the country where operation Amani Leo is being carried out when I was in DRC in February. I met people who are living their daily lives amidst the conflict and heard first hand about the dangers they face. When I spoke to MONUC and FARDC commanders who are planning operation Amani Leo I reiterated that human rights abuses will not be tolerated and that conditionality must be applied by MONUC in cases where they are committed. This means that MONUC support will be removed from FARDC battalions that are involved in human rights abuses. I was assured that this message is being delivered to the troops in the field. We remain extremely concerned at the effect this conflict is taking on innocent people. We are monitoring developments and will continue pushing for human rights abuses to be investigated as well as conditionality to be applied.
	The FDLR continue to kidnap, kill and rape-particularly in South Kivu which is why the military operations to remove them as a source of instability are necessary. With closer MONUC involvement and a more organised FARDC, Amani Leo is better planned than its predecessor, Kimia II. However, people are still being displaced as a result of military operations. Congolese army troops (FARDC) continue to commit human rights violations. I told President Kabila that the issue of impunity must be addressed and perpetrators of human rights abuses held to account when I met him in February. FARDC has made efforts to implement President Kabila's "zero tolerance" policy, by bringing some offenders to justice. MONUC is demanding that human rights violators are removed from military units that they are supporting. FARDC is being more transparent and is now reporting to MONUC cases of human rights abuse as they occur. We understand FARDC has provided figures to MONUC detailing the number of personnel tried in military courts between February 09 and February 10 for human rights crimes including rape, murder and armed robbery. Reporting from our post in DRC and MONUC sources suggests that the situation has improved over the last year.
	MONUC also carries out disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration (DDRRR) work with foreign armed groups, principally the FDLR and Lord's Resistance Army. In 2009 the combination of enhanced DDRRR work and military operations resulted in a threefold increase over 2008 in successful repatriations of FDLR fighters back to Rwanda. The UK continues to fund DDRRR work and I visited one of the UK-funded radio transmitters used for DDRRR communications when I was in DRC seeing how UK money is being put to good use.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the comments of the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Karel De Gucht, that "Congolese leaders are inappropriate partners and the aid given by the international community to the Democratic Republic of Congo is a total waste".

Lord Brett: The UK is one of the largest donors to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), spending £105 million in 2009-10. The UK works closely with the Government of the DRC, though we recognise the Government's weak capacity and the high risks of our engagement. Implementation of UK programmes is managed by international organisations, including the World Bank and United Nations agencies. This helps us to ensure that UK taxpayers' money is managed properly and put to good use.
	UK aid is yielding results in the DRC. Our health programme is reaching 2 million people with basic services and has provided 3 million mosquito nets to prevent malaria, a major cause of death in DRC. We also work with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Belgian Technical Co-operation and the DRC Ministry of Energy and Water to provide safer water and sanitation facilities for some 4 million people.
	We have made no specific assessment of Mr de Gucht's remarks.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the security situation in (a) the Kivus provinces, (b) Katanga, (c) Bas-Congo, and (d) Dungu, in the Orientale province in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: The security situation across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains a serious concern for the UK and we continue to monitor the situation closely.
	(a) I visited the Kivu's where Operation Amani Leo is currently under way when I was in DRC at the end of February. In Bunyakari I spoke to UN peacekeeping mission to DRC (MONUC) troops and the Congolese army (FARDC) 8th brigade who told me that while operations had opened up the main road and improved trade and communications insecurity was still high with FDLR attacks including rape, looting, house burning a daily occurrence. My meetings with local people confirmed the dangers and difficulties they face. I reiterated to MONUC and FARDC commanders that there must not be a repeat of the human rights abuses of Kimia II and that conditionality, whereby support offered by MONUC to FARDC battalions will be withdrawn where human rights abuses are committed, must be applied and acted upon where warranted. They assured me that this message is being delivered to troops and battalions in the field.
	In the North of North Kivu the main threats come from kidnappings by the Allied Democratic Forces/National Liberation Army for the Liberation of Uganda (ADF/NALU) and banditry committed by the PNC (Congolese Police Force), elements of FARDC, and the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) being pushed north by the military operations.
	(b) The FDLR has a presence in the north of Katanga, with some moving south as they are pushed out of their bases in the Kivus. Exploitation of minerals remains a source of insecurity as various armed actors and criminal elements seek to profit from mines.
	(c) There are border issues with Angola in Bas Congo, and the Angolans are also in dispute with DRC over access to oil in the ocean.
	The Government clampdown of the Bundia Dia Kongo group in 2008 has left a lingering tension in Bas Congo. The activities of Bundia Dia Kongo and the DRC Government remain concerning. Underlying tensions do not seem to have been resolved, though there have been no recent signs of violence.
	(d) The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) is present and terrorising the local population in Dungu. Human Rights Watch released a report recently which says that 321 civilians were killed by the LRA during a four day rampage in the Makombo district in December 2009. Fear of LRA attacks is preventing the local population from leaving the relative security of the towns and villages meaning fields are left uncultivated. Roads in the region are in a poor state and there are no mobile phone networks outside of Dungu; early warnings and a rapid response to attacks are nearly impossible. As I stated on 30 March "The LRA continues to pose a serious threat to civilians. They also put at risk both the conduct of humanitarian operations and the stability of the region".

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the World Trade Organisation to establish a study group on the protection of workers, with particular reference to allegations of slavery, forced labour and the exploitation of children in the Congo.

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: The exploitation of civilians, use of forced labour and exploitation of children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are of serious concern to the UK.
	The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) January 2010 report highlighted the natural resource sector as a particular area where armed groups use forced labour. I spoke to Prime Minister Muzito when I was in DRC about the importance for the country of mineral sector reform. We are working with the International Community to help the Government of DRC reform their natural resource sector.
	I also spoke to President Kabila about ending impunity for all human rights abuses including the use of child soldiers. We support the work of UN peacekeeping mission to DRC (MONUC) in reintegrating militia groups which has led to children being released into the care of child protection organisations. Through the EU advisory and assistance mission for security reform in the Democratic Republic of Congo (EUSEC) we are funding a biometric census project which provides accurate personnel figures for FARDC regiments and allows child soldiers to be successfully identified and removed.
	Alongside abduction one of the major factors that persuades children to join militia groups is the lack of access to education. As part of our work to address this, the Department for International Development provides £500,000 funding to projects improving access to primary education.
	We do not have any plans to ask the World Trade Organisation to establish a study group on the protection of workers.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Governments of Rwanda and Uganda, and at the United Nations, on Rwanda and Uganda's alleged role in the conflict and humanitarian situation in the Congo; and with what results.

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has made recent rapprochements with both Rwanda and Uganda, the UK Government welcome these and strongly support the greater regional co-operation they signify. DRC and Rwanda have now exchanged ambassadors. The DRC-Uganda rapprochement has led President Kabila and President Museveni to publicly pledge co-operation across the board.
	Our embassies and High Commissions in the Great Lakes region of Africa remain in constant contact with host governments over the best means to end political violence and promote stability and development in the DRC and more widely in the region.
	We have raised the issue of regional co-operation amongst Great Lakes countries at all levels in the UN. Most recently when I was in New York in March I spoke to the UN Secretary-General Ban Kin Moon about the region. During my recent visits to DRC and Uganda, and in a meeting last month with the Rwandan Foreign Minister I have urged the importance of regional co-operation.

Drugs: Mephedrone

Lord Willoughby de Broke: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they were required to consult the European Union before banning mephedrone.

Lord West of Spithead: The UK Government do not consider that they are required to consult the European Commission before controlling mephedrone under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
	The technical standards directive is not designed to cover action by member states to control dangerous drugs and consequently no consultation with the Commission is necessary prior to laying a draft order before Parliament to control mephedrone under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Economic Partnership Agreements: ACP Countries

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the least developed African, Caribbean and Pacific countries have signed regional economic partnership agreements; which of those countries have not signed such agreements; and what assistance they are providing to countries in both those categories during their negotiations with the European Union.

Lord Brett: So far, the Caribbean is the only region to have signed a regional economic partnership agreement (EPA). This region includes one least developed country (LDC), Haiti. Three other LDCs (Lesotho, Mozambique and Madagascar) have signed interim EPAs, and six more LDCs (Comoros, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda) have indicated their intention to sign interim EPAs. The following LDCs across the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) region have not signed an EPA: Angola, Chad, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sao Tome e Principe and Equatorial Guinea; Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tuvalu and Vanuatu; Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia; Malawi, Somalia and Sudan; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
	The Department for International Development's (DfID) assistance is not linked to signing of EPAs. However, DfID provides significant support through Aid for Trade to help ACP countries, as well as other developing countries, to improve trade and to help them integrate further into regional and global markets.

Egypt

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Egypt about the assault on the Anglican clergyman, Pastor Mahrous Karam, and Mrs Karam, of the Anglican Church in Luxor on 18 March, the subsequent destruction of church buildings, and the general treatment of Egyptian Coptic Christians.

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: We are aware of the case of Pastor Mahrous Karam. We have not made specific recommendations to the Government of Egypt on this case, but will continue to monitor the situation closely.
	The Government actively raise concerns on freedom of religion and belief with the Egyptian Government. In January, we raised the fatal shooting at Naga Hammadi. In February, during the UN's Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review of Egypt, we noted the recent rise in inter-religious tensions and encouraged further efforts to reduce and prevent discrimination. In March, during the third meeting of the EU-Egypt Sub-Committee on Human Rights and Democracy, the EU enquired into the Egyptian Government's intentions to address ongoing concerns and reports of discrimination of persons belonging to religious minorities.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 23 March (WA 277-8), what is the objective of improving the efficiency of human somatic cell nuclear transfer; and whether funds provided by the Medical Research Council to obtain additional women's eggs for human cloning may be used towards the derivation of clinical grade human embryonic stem cell lines for use in cell therapies or improving the outcome of infertility treatments.

Lord Young of Norwood Green: The MRC-funded research project to which the noble Lord refers is not being conducted under clinical grade conditions. However, knowledge derived from the project, which aims to improve the efficiency of the technique of human somatic cell nuclear transfer, may inform the development of stem cell lines for therapy and the improvement of fertility treatment in future.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 23 March 2009 (WA 92), how the use in laboratory research of patient-specific embryonic stem cells derived by human cloning differs from the use of patient-specific pluripotent cell lines described in the journals Cell (volume 134, issue 5, pp 877-86 and volume 136, issue 5, pp 964-77), Nature (volume 457, issue 7227, pp 277-80 and volume 461, issue 7262, pp 402-06) and Science (volume 321, issue 5893, pp 1218-21).

Lord Young of Norwood Green: There are a number of different approaches to deriving stem cell lines that can be used in the study of disease in laboratory-based research, these include somatic cell nuclear transfer and the derivation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) lines from patients. It is known that cells derived using different approaches have different features, for instance iPS cells divide more slowly than embryonic stem cells. There are many groups working to identify these differences and to develop iPS cells that are more like embryonic stem cells. However, both of the approaches cited by the noble Lord continue to be valuable in research studies of disease phenotype.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) has not made any detailed assessment of the work described in the published papers cited, however these papers indicate the continued rapid development of the iPS field and its continued promise following the development of disease-specific and patient-specific cells.
	However, it is not evident at present which area of stem cell research may deliver the most effective treatments for particular conditions and more research is needed on all types of stem cells to determine which routes should be pursued in the development of cell-based therapies. The MRC therefore supports research into all approaches to harness the potential of stem cells to understand human disease and develop effective treatments.

EU: Scrutiny Override

Lord Roper: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 8 December 2009 (WA 110), why the scrutiny reserve resolution was overridden on the proposed Council Decision approving the appointment of Vygaudas Usackas as the European Union Special Representative to Afghanistan; and what steps they are taking to avoid a repeat of those circumstances.

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: The role of the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for Afghanistan is important in focusing the EU effort, ensuring that it dovetails with the work of other bilateral and multilateral partners. The Government continue to believe in the importance of our work in Afghanistan and in the benefits of continued international co-ordination.
	I deeply regret that, on this occasion, my honourable friend, Chris Bryant, had to agree to the Council decision approving the appointment of Vygaudas Usackas as the EUSR to Afghanistan before it had cleared the Scrutiny Committee. The failure to allow the committee to fully scrutinise this decision came about due to an administrative oversight. Chris Bryant has spoken to those responsible to ensure this will not happen again.

Expenditure: Office Equipment

Lord Bates: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average purchase price, excluding value added tax, of a 500-sheet ream of white A4 80 gsm photocopier paper paid by each regional development agency in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much they spent in total on all photocopier paper in the last year for which figures are available.

Lord Davies of Abersoch: The regional development agencies are committed to achieving value for money in procurement and use of office supplies. Each RDA uses recycled paper in their printers and photocopiers in accordance with the network's commitment to sustainability.
	Prices of paper are influenced by specification in terms of paper quality, the distance of the supplier to the RDA's office (which impacts on carbon footprint, logistics and storage costs), the policy on the use of local suppliers, the environmental specification and the use of collaborative contracts with other public sector customers.
	
		
			 RDA Total spent on all photocopier/printer paper in the 2008-09 Average purchase price exc. VAT), of a 500-sheet ream of white A4 80 gsm photocopier/printer paper in 2008-09 
			  £ £ 
			 Advantage West Midlands 10,444.80 2.49 
			 East of England Development Agency 4,415.88 1.55 
			 East Midlands Development Agency 8,131.00 1.98 
			 London Development Agency 19,442.65 2.55 
			 North West Development Agency 13,485.84 2.42 
			 ONE North East 14,164.68 2.18 
			 South East of England Development Agency 11,442.08 2.03 
			 South West of England Development Agency 6,932.72 1.48 
			 Yorkshire Forward 14,884 3.20

Food: Aspartame

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many aspartame-sensitive participants have been recruited to the current Food Standards Agency study of anecdotal complaints relating to aspartame; and when the study will be completed.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the scientific basis for the Food Standards Agency's funding for the ongoing study of anecdotal complaints relating to aspartame.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Food Standards Agency expects to report its interim findings from the study being conducted of anecdotal complaints relating to aspartame; and what progress is being made.

Baroness Thornton: The study is not investigating anecdotal complaints relating to aspartame, but is aiming to collect validated information from individuals who believe aspartame adversely affects them. This information has not previously been systematically collected under trial conditions.
	The basis for funding this study was the need to gather information on the adverse effects individuals relate to the consumption of aspartame in a safe and controlled environment. This will enable a robust analysis of this evidence, which is not possible to do with the unverified case report data available at present.
	To date, 48 individuals who believe that they are sensitive to aspartame have volunteered to participate in the Food Standards Agency-funded study. An age and sex matched control is recruited for each aspartame-sensitive volunteer who takes part in the study.
	The aspartame study is due to report early in 2011. This is reliant upon the volunteers attending the clinic and participating in the study. If those who have already volunteered do so it should be feasible to recruit the remaining participants and compete within this timeframe.
	There will be no interim report of findings from this study. Due the nature of the study, a double blind placebo controlled study, it is not possible to review the study outcomes until the target number of volunteers have participated in the trial, as this would result in the research team being aware of which product the participants are consuming (placebo or control) and may influence how they treat them.
	As an evidence-based organisation we hope to increase our knowledge in this area and be in a better position to advise consumers.

Gaza

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how the Middle East quartet plan to put into practice the proposals in the statement issued following their Moscow meeting on 19 March.

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: The UK is represented in the Middle East quartet through its membership of the European Union. We welcome the quartet's statement as an important way of reinforcing the key messages from the international community to both sides of the conflict. We will continue to work with our international partners to encourage both sides towards credible negotiations and to work for an urgent and durable solution to the situation in Gaza.

Government: Borrowing

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government why there was a downwards revision of £4.3 billion in public sector net borrowing for January as published in the Office for National Statistics' February revision of central government current expenditure; which departments reduced their expenditure or increased their income (or both); and by how much each department reduced its expenditure or increased its income (or both).

Baroness Crawley: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director General for ONS, to Lord Laird, dated March 2010.
	As Director General of the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking why there was a downwards revision of £4.3 billion in public sector net borrowing for January as published in the Office for National Statistics' February revision of central government current expenditure; which departments reduced their expenditure or increased their income (or both); and by how much each department reduced its expenditure or increased its income (or both). [HL3162]
	Revisions to previous months' data for the public sector finances are not unusual, particularly for the most recent periods, reflecting their provisional status. The monthly data are also volatile and it can be misleading to read too much into them.
	The single biggest contributor to the revision of the January 2010 data, accounting for £3.2 billion of the total, was central government current expenditure. There were a number of factors contributing to this, including the availability of better estimates from government departments. Earlier months in the current financial year were also revised, leaving the year to date total broadly unchanged.
	There was also an upward revision of £1.4 billion to government tax revenues with firmer data replacing figures that were partially estimated.
	A breakdown of revisions by government department is not available. A significant part of the revision is due to technical changes, which are not subdivided by department, to some of the components that make up central government current expenditure.

Health: C. Difficile

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to achieve their target of reducing the number of hospital acquired Clostridium difficile infections by 55 per cent over the next three years.

Baroness Thornton: While there has been significant and rapid progress in reducing C. diffcile infections, some National Health Service organisations have not contributed as significantly as they could have done to these reductions. The key aim of the new C. difficile objective, starting in April 2011, will be to address this variation by driving the performance of all organisations towards the level of the best by setting a performance level for each NHS organisation (acute trusts and primary care organisations) based on its historical performance. The largest challenge will be for those organisations that have not contributed as significantly as they could have done to the progress made so far. The 55 per cent national reduction referred to is a consequence of successfully delivering the key aim of the objective.

Israel

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Israel has responded to the United Nations Resolution (ref: A/HRC/RES/10/19) of 26 March 2009; if so, in what terms; and, if not, whether they will make representations to the Government of Israel for a full response in the near future.

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the following statement:
	"The resolution adopted today in Geneva by the United Nations Human Rights Council has no connection to the safeguarding of human rights. As a democratic country, Israel will continue its internal inquiry procedures, out of its commitment to the rule of law and moral values. Israel has an outstanding legal system, widely esteemed around the world. Israel will continue to realize its right to protect its citizens, while at the same time maintaining the strictest moral standards".
	The UK will continue to press both the Israelis and Palestinians to conduct full, credible and independent inquiries into the serious issues raised by the UN Human Rights Council fact-finding mission on Gaza.

Israel and Palestine

Lord Ahmed: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking in response to the Government of Israel's construction of Israeli settlements in Palestinian occupied territory.

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: We along with our EU and US partners have condemned Israel's plans to build 1,600 housing units in East Jerusalem.
	The UK will continue to urge both sides to show the courage, commitment and compromise needed to make real progress. The quartet has also expressed its determination to move swiftly to proximity talks addressing issues of substance.

Justice: Arrest Warrants

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord West of Spithead on 19 November 2008 (WA 199) and 25 March 2010 (WA 324-5), how many British citizens have faced proceedings under the European arrest warrant; how many have been surrendered; and what accounts for any difference between the number arrested and the number deported.

Lord West of Spithead: The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (for Scotland) are the designated authorities in the UK responsible for processing European arrest warrants (EAWs). It is not possible from current systems to break down the number of EAWs received by the UK into nationality. To do so would require a manual examination of all files and incur disproportionate cost.
	On 19 November 2008, the Home Office replied to the noble Lord stating that, from 1 January 2004 up to 30 September 2008, 203 British citizens had been arrested pursuant to EAWs. 101 British nationals had subsequently been surrendered to other European member states pursuant to EAWs. Due to changes in late 2008 in the way the information was recorded it is not possible to provide figures for the remainder of 2008-09 without disproportionate effort. However, a new system introduced on 1 April 2009 will allow SOCA to provide more detailed figures once these have been validated.
	The difference between the number of arrests compared with the number of surrenders over any period is due to the judicial processes in the UK. Once the subject has been arrested on the European arrest warrant, it can take from a matter of days to many months before the subject is surrendered to the requesting territory

Nigeria

Lord Sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent reports they have received from the Government of Nigeria regarding the situation in Jos.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to make representations to the Government of Nigeria about the violence in Jos.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the political situation in Nigeria.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to promote religious freedom and tolerance in Nigeria.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance they have given to victims of the conflict in Jos, Nigeria.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that Nigeria upholds the values of the Commonwealth.

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: As I said in the House on 30 March in response to the noble Baroness Cox of Queensbury, we condemn the recent violence near Jos (House of Lords, Official Report, 30 March 2010, col. 1287), which resulted in such terrible loss of life. I raised UK concerns with the then Foreign Minister Maduekwe on 20 January, and my honourable friend the Minister of State Ivan Lewis spoke to the Foreign Minister on 15 March. Our High Commission in Abuja remains in regular contact with the Nigerian Government at state and federal level on this issue. The situation on the ground has now stabilised, although a curfew remains in place in Jos between 2100 and 0600 hours.
	The Department for International Development (DfID)'s representatives in Nigeria began discussions with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on assistance to victims of conflict in Jos in mid-March 2010. Previously, DfID had provided £200,000 to ICRC for its overall work in Nigeria, which has helped to meet immediate needs. Decisions on any additional funding will be made on the basis of a needs assessment currently being carried out by the ICRC.
	More broadly, our High Commission in Abuja and DfID will continue its programme of outreach and interfaith activity to promote dialogue between different communities to foster reconciliation and tolerance. We will also continue to press the Government of Nigeria on the importance of ensuring security for its citizens and protecting freedom of religion as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We encourage all Commonwealth states to uphold the values of the Commonwealth, as reiterated at the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2009, with the issuing of the Trinidad and Tobago Affirmation on Commonwealth Values and Principles. We also maintain a close dialogue with Nigeria through the Commonwealth forum. For example during last year's CHOGM I had productive discussions with Foreign Minister Maduekwe .

Prisoners: Home Leave

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government why Daniel Hargan, who was sentenced to seven years' custody in September 2008 by Belfast Crown Court for manslaughter, was given home leave after serving 18 months of his sentence.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: It is not the case that Mr Hargan was given home leave after serving 18 months of his sentence. Prior to the introduction of the Criminal Justice Order 2008 the legislation pertaining to Northern Ireland stated that 50 per cent remission applied to all determinate sentences. He became entitled to apply for home leave in his last six months of sentence. The timing of his eligibility for that was a consequence of the remission applied and the relevant period served in custody on remand. His application was approved by the Home Leave Board.

Public Bodies: Prompt Payment

Lord Hunt of Wirral: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to extend the prompt payment code to apply automatically to non-departmental public bodies.

Lord Davies of Abersoch: The prompt payment code is a voluntary code developed and managed by the Institute of Credit Management (ICM).
	We encourage all public sector bodies and private sector businesses to become signatories to the code.
	The list of signatories is provided in the Institute of Credit Management website at http://www.prompt paymentcode.org.uk.

Republic of Macedonia

Lord Bowness: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, or propose to make, to the Government of Greece about entering into negotiations with the Government of the Republic of Macedonia to resolve their dispute over the use of the name "Republic of Macedonia" in the context of the Republic of Macedonia's candidacy for the European Union.

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: The UK has ongoing contact with the Government of Greece regarding the name issue at official and ministerial level. Negotiations between Greece and Macedonia continue under the auspices of UN Special Representative, Matthew Nimetz. The UK remains fully supportive of these talks and continues to encourage both Macedonia and Greece to engage flexibly in the negotiations in the hope that they will be able to find an early solution.

Schools: Church Schools

Lord Glenarthur: To ask Her Majesty's Government what factors they consider, in conjunction with local education authorities and diocesan representatives, in promoting and encouraging church schools.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what links they maintain with diocesan boards of education with regard to Church of England schools.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are any proposed closures, or consultations on potential closures, of Church of England schools, taking place in central Liverpool; and, if so, what is their position on the possibility of any closures.

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin: The Government are not directly involved in individual decisions on making changes to local school provision, including promoting the establishment of new maintained schools and the closure of existing schools.
	We acknowledge the long-standing tradition of church schools in this country and the significant contribution that they continue to make to our education system. We remain committed to supporting church schools where local consultation has shown that this is what parents and the local community want. We have regular contact with faith group national bodies, including the Education Division of the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England which is invited to termly stakeholder meetings at the Department for Children, Schools and Families. They then feed back any required information to their dioceses.
	The role of diocesan boards of education is secured in law by the Diocesan Boards of Education Measure 1991. This requires every diocese to have a Diocesan Board of Education and that its functions are to include, among other things, promoting education that is consistent with the faith and practice of the Church of England, promoting religious education and worship in schools in the diocese and promoting church schools in the diocese.
	Where changes to local school provision are proposed a statutory process must be followed, that includes consultation with all those likely to be affected by the proposals. The process is decided at a local level under established decision-making arrangements, normally by the local authority. There are rights of appeal to the independent schools adjudicator in certain cases. In recognition of the importance of their schools to the education system, both the Church of England and Roman Catholic diocese have a right of appeal in the majority of cases, even where church schools are not directly involved.
	Our records show that St Margaret of Antioch Church of England Primary School has been approved under local decision-making arrangements for closure from 30 August 2010, and the displaced pupils will be accommodated at a local community primary school. We are not aware of any current consultations on potential school closures in the Liverpool area. However, under the statutory process any consultation would be a matter for either the local authority or the school concerned.

Sport: Football Clubs

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Answer by Lord Brett on 10 March (Official Report, col. 243), whether they have offered any advice or assistance in relation to the financial position of Manchester United; and whether they will take any action as a result.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The financial position of Manchester United is a matter for the club and the football authorities.
	The Government will continue to push the football authorities for tougher regulation from within the game.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the situation in the Jebel Mara region of Darfur and the estimate of Médecins du Monde that 100,000 civilians have been displaced and 400 are dead; and what steps they are taking to ensure that (a) the African Union/United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) assesses the humanitarian needs of the civilian population, and (b) aid workers have access to civilians.

Lord Brett: The UK Government are extremely concerned about the situation in the Jebel Mara region of Darfur. However we cannot confirm whether the estimates made by Medecins du Monde (MDM) are accurate. The Government of Sudan, the Sudanese Liberation Army rebel movement and the insecurity in the region have prevented humanitarian agencies from undertaking assessments in the areas where most civilians are thought to have fled.
	The UK Government have called upon all parties to cease hostilities immediately and allow humanitarian agencies access to all areas in order to assess the needs of the affected civilian population and provide humanitarian assistance. We are encouraging and supporting the African Union/United Nations Hybrid peacekeeping operation in Darfur (UNAMID) to focus on its primary roles of improving civilian protection and security. The UN's Humanitarian Co-ordinator, Georg Charpentier, is currently in Darfur. We are awaiting his report and will continue to use all opportunities and channels available to us to press all sides to allow humanitarian access.

Taxation

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: To ask Her Majesty's Government what increase in revenue there has been as a result of the domicile changes introduced in the 2008 Budget, broken down into revenue (a) directly from the £30,000 annual charge, (b) from the removal of the personal allowance, (c) from changes to residence criteria, and (d) as a result of closing loopholes and anomalies.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of people who have given up the remittance basis of taxation as a result of the £30,000 annual charge introduced in the 2008 Budget for those not domiciled in the United Kingdom.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government when figures will be published detailing the number of (a) resident non-domiciled taxpayers, and (b) non-resident non-domiciled taxpayers in (1) 2007-08, (2) 2008-09, and (3) 2009-10.

Lord Myners: Estimates are not yet available for the revenue yield from the package of reforms made to the remittance basis in Finance Act 2008.
	However, an initial analysis of the self-assessment returns received to date by HMRC for the 2008-09 tax year shows payments of the £30,000 remittance basis charge currently total around £130 million. It is not currently possible to estimate the number of individuals who have ceased to be taxed on the remittance basis as a result of the introduction of the £30,000 remittance basis charge.
	The Government have no plans to publish details of the taxpayer population broken down by their residence and domicile status.

Visas

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 25 March (WA 330), whether they will maintain and collate statistics on the numbers of foreign students granted visas to study at particular private colleges in order to assist the UK Border Agency in making assessments of the compliance and reliability of such colleges; and why they decided that making the number of visas issued per college known to competitors could put the college at an unfair disadvantage.

Lord West of Spithead: Educational institutions must issue a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) to each student they wish to sponsor under tier four. The UK Border Agency regulates the number of CAS each institution can issue and knows, from its sponsor management system when a CAS is issued. In this way the agency can tell how many students are studying at a particular institution at any one time.
	Publishing the number of visas issued to students studying at individual institutions could be used by would-be migrants to assess the popularity of particular institutions and could put those with few students from outside of the EU at a disadvantage.